Tunnel of Oppression

Tunnel of Oppression

9-month halls close

10 a.m.

All 9-month halls

JULY

15

12-month Move-out

10 a.m.

12-month halls

Come indulge your sweet tooth and vote for the best dessert in Richmond.

See what your fellow Rams experience. Learn about issues of race, LGBTQIA+ identities, immigration, media and mental health. Walk-ups are welcome, but individual participants and groups should reserve times by visiting, https://tinyurl.com/VCUTOP .

See what your fellow Rams experience. Learn about issues of race, LGBTQIA+ identities, immigration, media and mental health. Walk-ups are welcome, but individual participants and groups should reserve times by visiting, https://tinyurl.com/VCUTOP .

See what your fellow Rams experience. Learn about issues of race, LGBTQIA+ identities, immigration, media and mental health. Walk-ups are welcome, but individual participants and groups should reserve times by visiting, https://tinyurl.com/VCUTOP .

All 9-month residents living in Cabaniss, Gladding Residence Center, Johnson, Rhoads, Brandt, Honors, West Grace South, Grace & Broad and Ackell will need to leave their buildings by 10 a.m.

Students with 12-month contracts that are not staying in their same space will need to move out by 10 a.m.

Get Involved

Help Center

Maintenance Request

From time to time, items break in residence hall rooms. From burned out light bulbs and squeaky door hinges to dripping faucets and faulty HVAC units, VCU Residential Life & Housing and Facilities Management are dedicated to quickly solving your issue so you can get back to living your normal day to day life. You can alert Maintenance to any issues in your residence hall space by following the below instructions:

Fill in all appropriate information listed in the pop up box, making sure that you include your room number and letter and the exact location and purpose of the maintenance request in the problem details text box

Once complete click "Submit Order." A pop up should appear with confirmation of your request

If you have multiple maintenance issues of different types please separate them into different requests. Electrical issues and plumbing issues should be submitted in different work order requests

What is a maintenance emergency?When a repair is needed immediately to protect the safety of students or the facility, call (804) 828-9444 to report the issue and receive immediate assistance. Emergencies may include active leaks or water running where it shouldn’t; climate control issues, particularly on very hot or very cold days/nights; power outages; broken keys/locks; or broken windows.

Laundry

How much does laundry cost?Washing machines and dryers are located within each apartment in Ackell Residence Center, Broad & Belvidere Apartments, Cary & Belvidere Apartments, Grace & Broad Residence Center, West Grace North Student Housing, and West Grace South Student Housing. All other residence halls have laundry rooms within each building for residents to utilize for their laundry needs, at no cost to them. Each laundry machine is operated with a swipe of the VCUCard, which Residential Life & Housing loads with money at the beginning of each semester, and is reloaded as it is depleted.

Click on “Room Status” in the left menu to view the status of the laundry machines on campus.

Click on the laundry room you want to see. (Tip: clicking “Favorite” beside your laundry room will redirect you to that laundry room when you return in the future).

Scroll to the bottom to see the laundry machines in the laundry room you chose.

Click “Hold” to hold a laundry machine for five minutes.

You can choose to have an alert sent to you via email or text when your laundry is complete, or choose not to be notified.

Click "Hold" again to confirm your hold. You will receive an email to confirm your laundry machine hold.

Need help doing laundry?It's ok. Many students come to campus not knowing the difference between laundry detergent and fabric softener. Check out Laundry Tips on how to use the front-load washing machines and dryers in the residence halls.

VCU guests are encouraged to select VCU Guest Wireless from the list of available networks for Internet access while on the VCU campus. This service does require a login each time you attach to the service and does not allow access to all VCU online resources. However, VCU Guest Wireless does provide a more secure environment and access to the Internet.

PrintersVCU has an extensive wireless network that uses particular frequencies and channels to function. Unfortunately, most wireless printers broadcast the same frequencies and channels, and disrupt our signal when their wireless function is turned on. If you have a printer that has wireless capabilities, please turn the printer's wifi off. Wireless printers, when the wifi is enabled, will cause mobile devices such as your laptop and cellphone to disconnect from VCU's wireless network. The printer's signal can also travel through floors and walls and cause your neighbors' devices to lose their wireless connections as well. If you are not sure how to turn off your printer's wireless signal, please call ResNet Student Support for assistance at (804) 828-8943.

Stream TV and Movies

Watch Live TVWe are pleased to offer Philo to all on-campus residents. Philo allows you to watch live television on your own terms – on laptops and other devices anywhere on campus. All Rokus and other entertainment devices must be connected via wired Internet connection. They will not work on the wireless network. With a stellar channel lineup, the ability to pause and rewind live TV, and 20 hours of your own DVR space, Philo gives you the flexibility and control you need to stay up-to-date on sports, current events, and the shows that matter to you most.

After the download is complete go back to Movies.vcu.edu and select the movie or show you want to watch, and it will play from the app

As the year progresses hundreds of movies and shows will be added. If you have specific titles you want to see added or see options in a genre, just let your Hall Council representative know. They will make sure to consider it when making our next selections.

Without each of these pieces of information, mail delivery may be delayed while delivery carriers and mail room staff attempt to find the proper recipient.

Outgoing Mail & Packages

Outgoing mail must be properly addressed and contain vendor specific postage and or shipping labels i.e. (stamps for USPS, return label/barcode for FedEx, DHL, or UPS). Outgoing USPS mail must be placed in a designated outgoing mailbox for proper shipment. UPS packages must be placed in a designated UPS drop box or shipped directly from The UPS Store. FedEx Express packages may be sent from a designated FedEx Express drop box or from a FedEx Office location. FedEx Ground & Home Delivery packages can only be shipped directly from a FedEx Office location. DHL packages may be shipped from a designated The UPS Store location.

Halls with USPS outgoing mailboxes

Ackell Residence Center

Cabaniss Hall

Cary & Belvidere Residence Hall

Johnson Hall

USPS Drop Boxes

901 W. Franklin St: Pick-up Times: M-Sat: 1:00pm

612 W. Franklin St: Pick-up Times: M-Sat: 2:30pm

600 W. Grace St: Pick-up Times: M-F: 1:00pm Sat: 3:00pm

16 S. Cherry St: Pick-up Times M-Sat: 3:00pm

1210 W Main St: Pick-up Times: M-Sat: 3:00pm

800 E. Leigh St: Pick-up Times: M-F: 2:00pm

UPS Drop Box

901 W. Franklin St: Latest Drop Off: 6:45pm

500 N. Harrison St: Latest Drop Off: 6:45pm

1205 W Main St: Latest Drop Off: 7:00pm

17 E Cary St: Latest Drop Off: 7:30pm

1607 W Main St: Latest Drop Off: 5:00pm

The UPS Store Location3126 W. Cary St., Richmond, VA 23219

(804) 254-2902

M-F: 8:30am- 6:30pm

Sat: 8:00am- 6:00pm

Sunday: Closed

FedEx Express Drop Box

901 W. Franklin St.

601 W. Main St.

1 E. Cary St.

411 E. Franklin St.

555 E. Canal St.

FedEx Express pick up times vary depending on location; Saturday pickup is an option at select drop box locations

Please go to the Housing Office in your area to receive a new mailbox key. $20 will be charged to your student account for a new mailbox key. Unfortunately, staff is not able to check your mailbox for you if you have lost or forgotten your key.

What Happens To My Mail After I Move Out?

When you move out of your residence hall, be sure to fill out a Mail Forwarding Request with your new address. We will forward your First Class mail and packages for 60 days following your date of departure from the residence hall. After 60 days, all first class mail and packages will be returned to sender upon receipt. In order to avoid gaps in delivery time, be sure to change your address with friends, family, and businesses that send you mail, including Netflix, magazine subscriptions, and your bank.

If you do not fill out a Mail Forwarding Request upon move out, all first class mail will be returned to sender immediately following your departure from the residence hall.

Sustainability

VCU recognizes the importance of sustainability for our quality of life today and for future generations, and protecting the limits of natural systems. In April 2008, VCU’s President Emeritus Eugene P. Trani, Ph.D., signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, joining more than 600 college and university presidents in a commitment to neutralize greenhouse gases emitted on their campuses. As a signatory, VCU is working to reduce emissions in all areas of campus life — from educational programs and facilities to dining and residential life — as part of its plan to become climate-neutral by 2050. Read the University’s Statement of Sustainability and see how the University as a whole is working toward its goal at sustainability.vcu.edu.

How Can I Be More Sustainable As I Prepare To Come To Campus?

Put CFL or LED light bulbs into desk, table, and floor lamps. One CFL or LED bulb should be able to last you throughout your college career, provided you turn it off when you leave the room.

Pack as much as possible into suitcases when you’re packing for your new hall, instead of using plastic bags or cardboard boxes. When you’re done unpacking, send all suitcases back home with Mom & Dad, with the exception of one suitcase for your trips home.

Ask for used cardboard boxes at your area grocery store, instead of purchasing new.

Check out area thrift stores for décor for your new room, like lamps, posters, picture frames, throw pillows, or even rugs.

Check with roommates before buying appliances and electronics so you don’t purchase multiples, and consider renting your microfridge from Melvin Corporation, instead of purchasing appliances you won’t need after move out.

Borrow a vacuum cleaner from the Housing office in your hall, instead of purchasing your own.

Pest Control

If you see a pest in your building, please report it via the work order system at Quikfm.vcu.edu. Be as specific as possible when completing the work order, with the location, type of pest, and how many were noticed. Our pest control contractor will respond within 1 business day to inspect the area and treat as needed. If a more intensive treatment is necessary, instructions will be provided on how to properly prepare your living space for treatment, and the treatment will be scheduled to coincide with that preparation.

Locked Out and Keys

If you are locked out of your room during office hours (Monday – Friday, 8am – 6pm), visit your hall’s Housing Office to borrow a key for a maximum of 30 minutes. If you are locked out after hours or on weekends, visit the information desk in your hall, and the desk assistants will contact the RA on call to meet you in the lobby and escort you to your room to unlock the door. Please note that the first two lockouts after hours are free. The third lockout of the semester results in a charge of $30 being placed on your student account.

KeysResidence hall keys are the sole property of VCU and may not be duplicated under any circumstances. Possession of residence hall keys is limited to students with valid housing contracts. Room and mailbox keys are issued directly to the student assigned to a room, and are not transferrable. Roommates cannot pick up keys for one another.

Lost KeysIf you have lost your keys, you may borrow a long-term loaner key for a maximum of 3 days. If you have not found your keys and returned the loaner key by the end of the loan period, your room will be rekeyed, you will be issued a new room key, and your student account will be charged $65 for a room key. If you have also lost your mailbox key, you will be charged an additional $20 for a new mailbox key

Heat and AC

Many students wonder if they can change their unit from AC to heat. The answer is yes, but only in some buildings. Rhoads, Cabaniss, and Johnson were built with a two-pipe HVAC system, meaning that the building can either run heat or air conditioning, but not both. In Brandt Hall and the Honors College, while the buildings allow for heat and air conditioning simultaneously, it is necessary for the boilers to be taken out of service in the summer and the chiller to be taken out of service in the winter, in order to be more sustainable, and to provide routine maintenance to the systems. Facilities Management and Residential Life & Housing staffs pay close attention to the changes in the weather, and using forecasts, determine the best date to switch from one system to the other. Students will be notified ahead of time when the change over is going to occur.

HVAC filters are changed at each unit on a quarterly basis. Depending on your building, filter changes may happen during breaks when your building is closed, or they may happen during the semester.

Fire Safety

Fire/Safety inspections are performed in all residence halls during the Fall and Spring semesters by the Virginia State Fire Marshall’s Office and the VCU Office of Environmental Health & Safety. Resident rooms are inspected to ensure compliance of State Fire Code, as well as compliance with VCU and Residential Life & Housing (RLH) Fire/Safety policies, for the safety of all residents living on campus. During each visit, necessary corrections are made by Fire officials and RLH staff, including confiscation of prohibited Fire/Safety items. Residents found in violation of the Fire/Safety policies may face judicial action. A full list of prohibited items can be found in the 2017-18 Guide to Residential Living (Housing Policies) .

Facility FAQs

Are Phone Lines Provided In The Residence Halls?

Landline telephone connections are no longer provided in students' rooms within the VCU residence halls. Students therefore should not bring their own landline telephone. However, "courtesy" landline phones will be available throughout each hall. If a student wishes to use a courtesy phone for a long-distance call, he or she will need to provide their own calling card.

What To Bring

Alarm clock and desk lamp

Pillows, blankets and bed linens for an extra-long twin bed (Ackell & Broad & Belvidere residents should bring bedding for a full bed)

Bath linens, toiletries, shower caddy and shower shoes

Your favorite fish, in a 10 gallon or smaller tank

Flashlight

Iron and ironing board

Surge protectors with on/off buttons

Microwave, mini fridge, TV with QAM tuner, gaming systems (check with your roommate so you only bring one of each!)

Plants, posters, wastebasket, mirror (except Johnson Hall)

Non-flammable curtains

Students living in suite-style residence halls should also bring toilet paper, toilet plunger, and bathroom cleaning supplies. Students living in apartment-style residence halls should also bring dishes, kitchen utensils, pots and pans, toilet paper, shower curtain, toilet plunger and kitchen and bathroom cleaning supplies. We recommend that students contact their future roommate(s) about possible duplication of items prior to arrival on campus. Only one microwave and mini fridge is allowed per bedroom.

What Not To Bring

Additional furniture – wait until you have seen your room and how much space you have before bringing an extra chair. All VCU-provided furniture must remain in its assigned room. Non-VCU mattresses are not permitted without permission from Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity.

Extension cords and items that require a flame to operate or that produce heat, such as candles (including decorative), incense and incense burners, plug-in air fresheners, grills, lanterns and halogen lights (a full list of prohibited fire/safety items can be found in our policy manual

Illegal drugs, fireworks, chemicals, firearms and weapons of any kind. Students are expected to abide by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

What Do I Do If The Outlet(S) Beside My Sink Aren’t Working?

If the GCFI outlet near the sink is not working, it has likely surged and needs to be reset. You can reset the outlet by pressing the “Reset” button at the center of the outlet. Note: If the cause of the surge has not been corrected, the outlet will stop working again. You will need to unplug the appliances or remove the water causing the surge before continuing.

Room Change

Students interested in seeking a change in room assignment should seek out the Hall Director of their current building. Typically, the Hall Director's office is located on the first floor of the building and, except in emergencies, students will be required to make an appointment. Most Hall Directors will want to discuss with you reasons for your desired room change. If a roommate conflict is taking place, he/she may offer mediation assistance or other guidance to assist you. When a room change seems appropriate for any reason, the Hall Director is able to go on-line and view available vacancies across campus, which he/she will discuss with you. Once a new room has been selected, you will receive an official room change email from the Housing Office, confirming the change and giving you a time frame (typically three (3) days) to complete your move. Room changes will be processed based on space availability.

Our goal is for students to be happy and comfortable in their residence hall assignment and we understand a variety of reasons may warrant consideration of a room change. While we may offer assistance with solving a current roommate problem or direct you to campus resources for other types of support, our goal will always be to help you create or seek a safe, supportive and comfortable living environment.

Please note that room rates vary depending on the specific residence hall, suite, or apartment. Differences between housing rates will be prorated, effective on the date the new assignment is made. Room changes can also result in changes in dining plan status. Please be sure to request information regarding the impact a room change may have on your housing rate or meal plan requirements.

Any questions regarding your move should be directed to the appropriate area office or our central Housing Office.

Transferring and Graduating

Students graduating in the fall semester will need to vacate their space by December 20. Students living in 12-month halls graduating in spring do not need to vacate after graduation. They may stay until the end of their contract.

Students who withdraw or terminate their enrollment during the academic year, or have their enrollment terminated by VCU, must vacate and return keys and/or notify Residential Life and Housing of their departure within 48 hours. Residents must contact the hall staff of their hall office to coordinate check-out.

If you require specific housing accommodations due to a documented medical issue, please visit VCU Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity (SAEO) webbsite and click “Forms." There you will see a Housing Accommodations Request Form. Complete the form and per SAEO instructions. Your request will be reviewed and you will receive a response via email within 10 - 15 business days. Requests will be reviewed and accommodated as space allows.